A police officer in Florida has been sacked after suggesting that targets
resembling Trayvon Martin, the teenager shot dead in the state last year,
should be used in a shooting practice session.

Trayvon, who was shot dead while walking through George Zimmerman's gated community in Sanford.Photo: REUTERS

By Jon Swaine, New York

8:36PM BST 14 Apr 2013

Ron King, a sergeant in Port Canaveral, asked trainees earlier this month if they wanted to use the paper targets, which feature a bullseye on a faceless "hoodie" carrying a bag of Skittles and a canned drink.

Trayvon, 17, was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying the same snacks when he was shot dead by George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch volunteer, in February last year.

Mr King claims to be the victim of a misunderstanding. He said the targets were a "no-shoot training aid" for use as an example of a scenario in which officers should not open fire.

"Using real-life situations as a training scenario is not uncommon," he said in a video statement on YouTube. His trainees – two police officers and a civilian – declined to use the targets.

John Walsh, the interim chief executive officer of Port Canaveral, said Mr King was fired after an internal investigation. "Whether his act is one of hatred or stupidity, neither one is tolerable," said Chief Walsh.